A DRINK driver who was almost three times over the legal limit was responsible for a six car pile up, Loughborough Magistrates Court heard.

Shop assistant Rajanikant Valand, 43, hit a parked car on August 3 as he drove his Nissan Almera on Queen's Road, Loughborough.

Prosecuting, Ian Johnson, told the court how the car Mr Valand hit was then pushed into the next five vehicles.

He was later arrested at his home in Russell Street after police followed a trail of fluid thought to be caused by a leaking radiator.

Mr Johnson said: "During the interview he admitted being the driver and stated he had consumed three or four cans of beer in the space of an hour."

He added the lower of the two breath test readings given by Mr Valand was 104 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit is 35.

Mark Wardley, defending Mr Valand, said: "He decided to take his brother home, which is a five-mile journey. He came round the corner and hit the car causing a shunting action. He accepts that he left the scene and is willing to complete a drink driving course."

He was given a two-year driving ban, with the option of reducing this to 18 months by going on a driving rehabilitation course, as well as a community order of 50 hours unpaid work. He was ordered to pay s35 court costs.

Pensioner Olive Cholerton's brand new blue Ford Fusion was damaged in the accident.

She said: "It was such a bang, we jumped up to the window and my son ran outside. It's just lucky that we weren't in it."

Leicestershire County Council is currently assessing the road to see if a pedestrian crossing is needed.